Some of my Favorite Things

I'm not terribly tech savy -- I have a phone, it works, I'm happy.  I have a tablet, it works, I'm happy.  Same thing with my car -- as long as it has 4-wheels, brakes, a radio and A/C, I'm good.  But today I thought I'd share some of my favorite apps / websites / social media accounts. 

First up is the Best of Nextdoor account on Twitter (@bestofnextdoor).  If you are not already on Twitter, get an account NOW.  Then, immediately start following this account.  And get ready to pee your pants from laughing so hard.  This Twitter parody account highlights some of the stupidest, moronic, idiotic stuff posted on the Nextdoor app (which is supposed to be a helpful on-line neighborhood community).  The Nextdoor app is often described often as "Twitter for old people."  My personal favorite is when an innocent post goes horribly wrong and people clap back with:  THIS.  IS.  NOT.  A.  DATING. SITE.

Texas heat is no joke.  I've always drank (drunk??) lots of water throughout the day but thanks to the Drink Water Reminder app I realized I wasn't drinking as much as I should be.  This is a very easy app to use.  Decide what measurements you'll be using (lbs./fluid oz. or kgs), enter your weight, sign up for reminders and you're pretty much good to go!  Keep track of your intake and hydrate away! 

My new favorite Pinterest account was actually brought to my attention by Coach.  Not surprisingly, it's also a parody account called "My Imaginary Well Dressed Toddler."  This account is the brainchild of Tiffany Beveridge, an Australian writer and blogger.  Her imaginary well dressed daughter, "Quinoa," is the coolest kid on the internet.  Why Quinoa?  Beveridge has said "it struck her funny that a grain had become trendy.  Like, so trendy somebody was probably going to name their kid Quinoa."  Quinoa also has very hip friends:  Ridley (he only eats free range chick nuggets), Twerk (the kid's philosophy?  "No shirt, no shoes, no drama, no high fructose corn syrup.").  She's in a coffeehouse band called "Smashed Cucumber" with her friends Rhapsody and Periwinkle.  Her friends Chevron, Eleven, Adderall, Pantone, Atlas, Pabst, Garamond, Hollandaise, and Vinaigrette make occasional appearances, too. 

Coach can fall asleep any where, any time.  I, on the other hand, have difficulty.  If a hot bath with plenty of lavender Epsom salt doesn't work, I use the Relax Melodies app for meditation, white noise, sounds of nature, Gregorian chants and yoga music. 









One of KJ's favorite Instagram accounts is @thebucketlistfamily.  If you haven't met the genetically blessed, absolutely adorable, incredibly photogenic, Gee Family yet, you can check them out at:  http://www.thebucketlistfamily.com/

I'm inspired and awed by @humansofny Instagram account.  The account highlights people interviewed on the streets of New York. You never know what kind of battle people are fighting. 

Do you like wine?  Do you sometimes get intimidated or confused at the liquor store?  Red?  White?  Rose?  Are screw tops tacky?  Never know which wine to bring to the dinner party?  Delectable is the app for you!  This app has label recognition which allows you to easily pull up ratings, reviews and tasting notes.  You can also keep a wine journal and follow top sommeliers, vinters and those in the know.  I also use this app if Relax Melodies doesn't get the job done.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#hashtagthis

There's always some cool stuff happening on Twitter if you know where to look.  Two of my favorite things trending right now are #askhermore and #bringbackoursnacks

Awards season is upon is (think recent VMA's, the Emmy's, etc.).  There is a a HUGE difference in the  content of red carpet questions asked of male actors versus female actors, producers, directors, etc.  Entertainment industry males are asked questions about how they prepared for their role, who inspires them, etc.  Female counterparts are asked inane questions about red-carpet beauty tips, which designer they're wearing, etc.  Hence the #AskHerMore movement.  Some are of the opinion that the red carpet IS a fashion show and they don't tune in to hear Julia Robert's political opinions.

 I noticed this disparity one night a couple of weeks ago when Coach and I were watching that American Ninja show.  We wanted to watch because the first female to make it to Mount Whatever was supposed to be on.  They asked all the male contestants about their training and preparation.  However, the only female on the show, the first female EVER to make it to the semi-finals, was asked about fashion.  I was SO aggravated.  #AskHerMore

#BringBackOurSnacks is a play on the infamous photo of Michelle Obama's her holding up a sign for the missing Nigerian school girls.

Michelle Obama has singled-handedly ruined American school lunches and the kids aren't going to take it.  If folks can protest in Ferguson, I think school kids have the right to express their displeasure over the crappy food they are served.  A lot of people think the kids are acting like spoiled brats but it's not really about the snacks.  It's much more than twinkies and ho-ho's.  Many students posts photos of the actual lunch and not only is it horribly unappetizing looking, the portions are minuscule.  For many kids, school lunch is the only meal of the day.  My mother worked in local school district and said it was so sad to see some of the elementary school kids beg for seconds or slip the apple or banana in their backpack to eat later.  What about those kids?  Those are the ones I feel bad for.

What's App?

 

This www.AlabamaWomenBloggers.com link-up couldn't come at a better time!  As mentioned in a previous post I recently graded to a Samsung Optimus G (still love saying the word "Optimus!").  I've got the basics on my phone:  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, FourSquare, GetGlue, (I am a total sucker for those stickers!),  Pinterest, Etsy, Tumblr, IMDB (I'm always looking up movie quotes, who was the name of that guy who played so and so in that movie?), Wanelo (still not sure what this one is all about but KJ made me download it), etc.  I'm definitely going to check out some of the apps the other ladies have posted about!  

Zodiac

My husband has threatened to throw away my beautiful new phone and my computer and wants me to stay off social media.  I have a tendency to get very upset at some of the injustices of the world (or what I, in my own little world, perceive to be unjust).  I'm not a black or white kind of girl.  I see things very gray.  And this I blame entirely on being a Libra.  I try to please everyone.  I try to see both sides of the story and I get very (very) vocal about certain topics that I feel passionate about (Paula Deen, Trayvon Martin, the latest cover of Rolling Stone magazine, Hoover City Schools cutting buses from the budget . . . I could go on and on). 

Here are some typical characteristics of Libras and my thoughts on said characteristics: 

Kind, gentle and lovers of beauty, harmony and peace, the Libra-born are attractive people. However, in their bid to please everyone, they can rarely say no to anyone, and as a result, end up stretching themselves.

Positive traits

Tactful
The Libra-born know how to get things done (or, as Tina Fey says, "Bitches get Stuff Done"), however, they cannot be called manipulative. They are too nice to take undue advantage of people’s emotions. 
Romantic
Ruled by Venus, the people born under the Zodiac Sign Libra are romantic to the core. Everything in their lives revolves around the magic word – Love.  (yeah, OK.  I admit it.  I do love loving gestures from my husband or daughters big or small)
Charming
The way they talk and the matters they talk about make people comfortable in their company. And their captivating smile is like a cherry on the cake!  (I don't know about the captivating smile part)
Just
The have a strong sense of justice and fair play. They may tactfully find their way out, but they will never resort to dubious means to get what they want.  (and here's where I start to get in trouble)
Diplomatic
The Libra-born are famous for their diplomatic skills and ability to listen to opposing viewpoints without losing patience. (I don't know about the patience part)
Balanced
Striking balance comes naturally to the Scales as they are graphically represented in the Zodiac calendar. They rarely go to extremes, be it regarding any matter. (like any modern woman, I do try to have it all and juggle a lot -- family, home, career, etc.  Just when I think I'm doing great, something blows up and it all comes crashing down)

Negative traits

Superficial
External beauty means a lot to them. So much so that the Libra-born tend to become superficial, ignoring the potential flaws underneath the beautiful exterior. (I don't think I'm superficial when it comes to physical beauty but buy me a gorgeous pair of shoes or a handbags and I'm yours for life!)
Detached
People born under the Zodiac Sign Libra are empathetic but they can also be detached and pretentious as they don’t wish to displease anyone. (I do have a habit of shutting down and removing myself from the situation rather than confront it head on)
Unreliable
A Libra gets easily influenced by others’ opinions and may change his/ her mind before one may realize it. You may never know if they will keep their word. (I am very guilty of this.  I cancel plans or commitments often because I am just overwhelmed trying to please everyone else and need to just take a step back.  Also see above comment regarding "Detached")
Laid-back
They are energetic but can be surprisingly laid-back as well. And it is not so much physical laziness as it is a desire to avoid tension and emotional challenges. (Um, yes)
Indecisive
Choosing one option out of two or more choices is probably the toughest task for the Libra. Their indecisiveness often becomes a hurdle in their path. (This is SO not me.  Once I make up my mind.  It's done.  We will not discuss it again.  All systems a go.  My mind is made up and that's that.  My husband says it's the stubborn Polish side of me)
Self-indulgent
Since they focus on being surrounded with all things beautiful, the Libra-born tend to self-indulgent and extravagant. (I am totally self-indulgent.  Again, it all goes back to trying to please everyone else.  I often find it quite necessary to take a step back, remove myself from the situation and just take care of me for a while.  Whether it's a pedicure, a bubble bath or reading a book because Damn it!  I'm worth it!  Also see Detached, Unreliable and Laid-Back.)

And here's what the Huff Post has to say about Libras:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/horoscopes/astrology/libra/about/

Famous Libras include:  Ganhdi, Sting, Will Smith, Barbara Walters, Kim Kardashian, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Zac Efron, Usher, Snoop Dog, John Lennon, Viggo Mortenson, Gwen Stefani, Eminem, Matt Damon, Ryan Reynolds, Margaret Thatcher, F. Scott Fitzgerald

So, what does your birth sign say about you???

Saturday Silliness and Social Media

Holy Cow KJ has been on a roll the last couple of days.  Really funny stuff coming out of her mouth lately.  She's got a great sense of humor.  Last night I told her she was killing me and she said, "I know.  I've really got to get off the funny train."  She's very dry and sarcastic.  I have no idea where she gets it from!  She's sowing her sassy oats and middle school should be interesting. 

And now it's time to talk about social media.  I loved FB when it first came out.  I loved living in Alabama and being able to keep up with friends and family around the country/around the world.  I loved seeing photos of my friend's kids and I loved hearing about their accomplishments and adventures.  Then it started to get annoying.  I became inundated with Farmville Requests and friends started to use FB as a personal diary and ended up sounding like immature 12 year old little girls (you know the type, the friend that posts about EVERYTHING.  Every little mundane detail of their life:  "Packing for vacation!"  "Driving to airport!"  "Waiting at airport!"  "Boo!  I hate going through security!"  "Sitting on runway!"  "Just landed!"  "At hotel!"  And, thanks to FB I now think "ever" is the most over-used word on the planet -- "Best husband EVER!"  "Prettiest baby EVER"  "Happy birthday to the best son EVER"  Oh!  And the photos of the food you're about to eat.  Those are my favorites!  You get the point.  And I'll admit it.  I'm sure at some point in the game I did the same thing. 

Then came Twitter.  Luv, Luv, Luv Twitter.  I can decided who I want to interact with and, more importantly, who I DON'T want to interact with.  And, I don't get dire messages about some one's Golden Unicorn that is about to die unless I give them 15 bales of silver hay or whatever the hell.  If I don't agree or appreciate some one's tweets, I stop following them.  It's nothing personal.  No big deal.  I love checking in with my favorite news outlets during the day, sports scores, etc.  Love getting a laugh from the Sarcastic Wonka, the Fake ESPN, Denis Leary, Lisa Lampenelli, etc.  RevRun's tweets are a great pick-me up, too.  It's fast, it's succinct and Twitter reminds me of one of my favorite Jackie Kennedy quotes:  "I want minimum information given with maximum politeness."  Just give it to me straight.  Yup.  That's why Twitter is for me. 

And then we were introduced to Pinterest.  The blogger in me personally loved Pinterest.  The traveler in me, the fashionista in me, the book nerd in me, the history geek in me, the closet interior designer in me.  Yes, all of me loved Pinterest.  So visually stimulating!  So inspirational!  All in one glorious place!  It's the coolest encylopedia on the planet!  And then, I noticed something.  It took me a while (yeah, I'm a slow learner) but I noticed people using social media (my beloved Twitter and Pinterest!) to push their product.  I'm not talking about big name brands like Apple, Coca-Cola, Nike.  I'm talking about mom and pop operations.  One of my favorite Pinners (who shall remain nameless) had amazing photos/pins of beautiful home decor items.  I re-pinned several of them because I was inspired.  I thought, "Wow!  I could do this in my own home!" or "Wow!  That would look great on my mantel!"  Then I realized I was no better than a drug dealer.  I was helping her push her product onto other naive, unsuspecting Pinners.  I've noticed folks on Twitter doing the same thing (they shall remain nameless, too).  Sometimes they add a photo or Instagram to their Tweet, sometimes a link to their website.  I think it's amazing when someone can make a living doing something they love.  That's a wonderful gift my friend.  Don't abuse it.  However, when all of your tweets are about your Etsy site, your Scentsy stuff and you "friended" me on FB so I would join your legions of cooking/baking minions, I will delete you in a heart beat. 

We (Cosmo & I) will help anyone in any way, shape or form we can.  We have friends that own their own businesses and we support them.  We support and promote them as often as we can -- whether it's a local restaurant, a dental office, an art gallery downtown, a local politician running for office.  You name it.  We've supported our friends.  And have loved doing it.  We've always felt it was a great honor to be included in that kind of stuff.  Let's face it.  When you're a new business there are people you HAVE to invite and then there are people you WANT to invite.  Drop me an e-mail, give me a phone call, send me a formal invite.  Just make it a little personal, make the effort.  If our schedule permits, we'll be there.  If it's important to you, it's important to us.  Don't be sneaky and push your drugs on your FB, Pinterest or Twitter accounts. 

To Follow or Not to Follow?

That is the question. Well, that a couple other questions I have at the end of the post.

I like to access my accounts every once in a while and do a little house-cleaning. You know, delete some bloggers that haven't posted in year, people I once thought were interesting on Twitter, update my Goodreads account, update the pages I like on Facebook, etc.

Tonight I've been cleaning up my Pinterest boards. When I first starting pinning, I just had very generic, catch-all categories. Now, I've defined my boards a little better and deleted things that are no longer of interest to me or pins I must have really liked because I had them on the same board 5 or 6 times! As I was cleaning up, I realized I never, ever go on anyone else's profile and look at their pins. It was a very weird revelation. I have absolutely no desire to check out other people's boards. If I follow someone's boards and their pins pop up on my home page, yes, I'll re-pin. But I don't ever specifically go to their profiles to see how they've categorized things or what they've named their boards or anything else for that matter. Even though I'm of the mind that once you put something on the Internet it's no longer private, I do feel that Pinterest boards are personal. While I may appreciate the photo you've pinned, I don't want to know or need to know why you've pinned it or under what category.

I also discovered that I don't like to comment or put a lengthy description on my pins. I usually try to keep it brief and put a punctuation mark or something very random in the comment section. What that particular pin means to me and what it means to someone else re-pinning it at a later date and time are usually two very different things.

While I was cleaning up my Pinterest boards, I also realized a few things about myself and a few other things were just reiterated: I love to read. I am not a fan of mid-century or modern furniture. I am a romantic at heart. I have a wicked sense of humor. I love to travel. I love to take naps (preferably outside with a good book nearby). I like the beach (preferably with a good book nearby). I also love autumn. I also love winter. I love bathtubs (preferably outside with a good book nearby). Bracelets, shoes and handbags are my weakness. I have no idea who "Dr. Who" is or what's up with that blue telephone booth. I don't like to cook. At all.

How are you using Pinterest? For the recipes? For the outfit ideas? Home design inspiration? Does anyone else feel that Pinterest is "feminine" and it's weird when a guy has a Pinterest board??

Socially Aware

So unless you live in a cave or your Internet was knocked out due to the recent solar flares, you know who Joseph Kony is. While I am going to try my very best to keep my political opinions to myself, I do feel that the KONY12 video accomplished its goal: to raise awareness to the plight of the children in Africa who are suffering atrocities at the hands of Joseph Kony and his army.

We are subjected to and being influenced by social media at an alarming rate. Celebrities and reality show participants have become our go-to source for information. How many folks watch CNN or read the New York Times on a regular basis? How many followers does Kim Kardashian have?

Let's face it. Most people get their news from social media and it is unfathomable to me how many people believe something to be true just because someone else put it out on the Internet. We've all heard someone say, "I saw it on Twitter" or "my friend had this on their Facebook." Just because Ellen or PDiddy or Kayne retweeted it doesn't mean they have all the facts. It just means they (or their publicist) hit the retweet button. George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Bono, the Baldwin brothers, etc. are politically active. Even Scarlett Johanssen is considered "politically actiive" due to her Democratic campaign work. Most became politically active after they became celebrities. Some celebrities really and truly walk the walk; others strategically attend publicized events to help promote their latest book, their latest movie, their latest product. Unfortunately, celebrities are able to reach a larger audience than most of us normal folk and that can be dangerous.

Check everything out before you retweet or re-post and jump on the bandwagon. Do your homework. Don't forward e-mails in the hopes of winning a free iPad (I mean, seriously! Do you actually know anyone who has ever won that free iPad??). Don't donate to a charity if you are unsure about their accounting practices. Or, if you are uncomfortable or not in the position to make a cash donation, see if you can donate goods or services that will go directly to those in need; not get lost in bureaucratic red tape.

Bloggity Blog Blog

I love to blog. I really do. I like Twitter and Facebook, I like Goodreads, Pinterest, Get Glue and Foursquare, too but I always seem to come back to blogger.

I started the blog as a daily journal, a way to communicate w/ my out of town family and friends and just try to make sense of it all. I don't write about anything specific, I don't post recipes, I don't exclusively write about fashion or home decor. I don't blog about diet or exercise. Cosmo & I aren't newlyweds any more so we're not planning our wedding or in that "honeymoon" phase, my "babies" aren't little any more so I'm kind out of the "mommy" loop, too. I just blog about whatever pops into my head. Which can sometimes be scary. I like to check out other people's blogs. I like to see how other folks live (particularly those in other cities/countries), I like to see that I'm not the only one who's husband / kids / whatever get on their nerves. I also love to look at crafty blogs. I am the least crafty person I know and I'm always amazed at the talent of some people. I also like looking at the design and layout of different blogs...some people so put so much time and effort into their blog and it shows! I always feel like mine is a total hodge-podge!